4. Can the funding be used to buy out teaching time for faculty advising students? Or can grant funds be used to pay the Training Director assigned by the Institution?

Yes, however please be mindful that the funding is primarily for the research fellows and proposals that include excessive funding for the Training Director or other faculty members may be scored lower.

5. Can this grant cover release time for junior faculty who may want to develop their own research in the topical areas outlined in the grant opportunity, while working with the student graduate researcher team?

No. Available grant funds are to be used as stipends to either graduate students who are enrolled in a master's degree program (up to two years) or enrolled doctoral students up to four years.

ED policy limits indirect cost reimbursement on a training grant to the recipient's actual indirect costs, as determined by its negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, or eight percent of a modified total direct cost base, whichever amount is less. For the purposes of this competition, a modified total direct cost base is defined as total direct costs less stipends, tuition and related fees, and capital expenditures of $5,000.00 or more.

Yes. An institution may submit as many applications as they desire, however each successful institution will only receive one MRS Program award in any given fiscal year. Therefore, it is highly recommended that institutions coordinate their efforts across and/or within academic units.

Selected grant recipients are required to submit an annual progress report and a final report as a condition of the award. The report will document the extent to which project goals and objectives are met.

15. What is the maximum number of fellows allows to participant in the program?

There are no maximum numbers of fellows allowed to participate however funding limitations will effectively limit the number of fellows to some functional level. Proposals will be evaluated on whether the institution has outlined a fellowship plan that will lead to a quality experience for the fellow and superior products for the government.

18. Can applicants create their own program name for the grant or is Minorities & Retirement Security Program required when referencing the grant?

Applicants can create their own program names; however the proposal should clearly specify that it is offered for the Minorities and Retirement Security Program. If the proposal is accepted, products should clearly identify the work is performed under the Minorities and Retirement Security Program.

Yes, you may submit a proposal for multiple years of funding. However, if a multi-year proposal is approved, funding isn’t guaranteed for future years. In addition, for multiple-year awards to be approved, we strongly recommend that the applicant submit, as part of their proposal, plans to demonstrate tangible yearly progress toward the final product.